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Agnet April 16/04
Research focuses on drought-tolerant GM wheat
Scheme to mine genomic databases
Tanzania to draft GM guidelines
ISNAR-IFPRI report on GM research programs
ASPB offers access to plant science journals
Farmers face new threat: inspection fatigue
Managing soil carbon
Detailed rules for implementing Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on GM food and feed published
Keep organic safe from GE contamination
Question and Answers on the regulation of GMOs in the EU
Could seaweed clean up DDT?
Sterility Mosaic Disease—the “green plague” of pigeonpea: advances in understanding the etiology, transmission and control of a major virus disease
Distribution and incidence of iris yellow spot virus in Colorado and its relation to onion plant population and yield
Timing of preharvest infection of pear fruit by Botrytis cinerea and the relationship to postharvest decay
Incidence of postharvest decay of ‘d’Anjou’ Pear and control with a Thiabendazole drench
Conventional and real-time PCR-based assay for detecting pathogenic Alternaria brassicae in cruciferous seed
Biocontrol of postharvest diseases of Jujube fruit by Cryptococcus laurentii combined with a low dosage of fungicides under different storage conditions
Dose curves of disinfestants applied to plant production surfaces to control Botrytis cinerea
Engineered resistance against Papaya ringspot virus in Venezuelan transgenic papayas
Assessment of the potential year-round establishment of soybean rust throughout the world
A computer program to improve the efficiency and accuracy of postulating race-specific resistance genes
Monsanto Canada Scholarship program supports the future of agriculture
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Research focuses on drought-tolerant GM wheat
April 16, 2004
Western Producer
Adrian Ewins
http://www.producer.com/articles/20040415/news/20040415news06.html
An internationally funded research agency based in Mexico is, according to this story, working to develop a drought tolerant genetically modified wheat.
The GM wheat has shown "very encouraging results" in greenhouse testing and has now been planted in the ground in screened-in outdoor testing areas.
David Poland, a spokesperson for the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, known by its Spanish-language acronym CIMMYT, was quoted as saying, "We're pretty excited about it. … It's good to get excited but we're not halfway there. It really has to be tested under something closer to field conditions."
It could be eight to 10 years before the project results in a new commercially available variety.
Scheme to mine genomic databases
April 16, 2004
Crop Biotech Update
www.isaaa.org/kc
A new scheme has been set up to use the wealth of agricultural genomic data stored in databases across the world and identify genes associated with crop improvement traits. It also seeks to develop a public bioinformatic platform to store this data and facilitate easy access.
The Challenge Programme for Unlocking Genetic Diversity in Crops for the Resource Poor is based at the headquarters of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico. It was conceived as “ a means of going in and first identifying the genetic wealth held within these banks, developing the tools and techniques to discover the genes, and then moving these genes into crop improvement programs that target poor farmers and consumers in developing countries," explained Robert Zeigler, the scheme’s director.
Zeigler said that the Challenge Programme has already initiated efforts at gathering preliminary data and developing a bioinformatics platform. The next step will be to seek proposals that will contribute to the discov ery of new genes associated with improved cereals, rice, and wheat.
For more, contact Robert Zeigler at rzeigler@....
Tanzania to draft GM guidelines
April 16, 2004
Crop Biotech Update
www.isaaa.org/kc
A multi-sector group of Tanzanian experts will draft the policy guideline
s and regulations on genetically modified (GM) crops for the country. The
EastAfrican newspaper quotes Tanzania's Minister for Agriculture and Foo
d Security, Charles Keenja, as saying that the country had taken "no clea
r position" on GM products but that it was important to “put in
place mechanisms and guidelines on how it would be introduced, including
preparing a Cabinet paper for the purpose.E2809D
Keenja said Tanzania was having discussions with the South African govern
ment over how to adopt GM technology. He noted that the two countries hav
e a similar environment and have laboratories for research on GM organism
s. Likewise, he added that "As of now we are self-reliant for over 90 per
cent of our food, but by going about this issue systematically and criti cally, we would in future reach a point where we will decide on how to ad opt GMOs."
View the EastAfrican newspaper at this link: 09 http://www.nationaudio.com/News/EastAfrican/current/index.html.
ISNAR-IFPRI report on GM research programs
April 16, 2004
Crop Biotech Update
www.isaaa.org/kc
A new report from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in collaboration with the International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) analyzed recently the public "research pipelines" for genetically modified (GM) crop development in China, South Africa, Indon esia, Argentina, India, Philippines, Egypt, Brazil, Bulgaria, Thailand, Z imbabwe, Pakistan, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Kenya, and Mexico.
Of these 16 developing and transition countries, the authors stated that research programs have developed 9 GM events, and percent of these are currently undergoing various stages of confined testing. With regards to field testing, frequent delays were observed which could increase the possibility for a trait or germplasm to lose its effectiveness due to disease pressures change, and more productive varieties that will be released over time.
The authors added that regulatory systems and policies in these countries have been under development for over 12 years. Some countries have alrea dy conducted biosafety assessments, and have determined which crops are a cceptable for trials and use. However, despite this progress, regulatory decision-making processes remain complicated, and are affected by conform ing to the Cartagena Protocol for Biosafety.
To expedite the development process, collaboration with farmers and engagement in more public/private partnerships and South-to-South collaboration was encouraged. The authors also discussed policy, political and institute changes that could ensure the safety and efficacy of GM crops. A comb
ination of these changes and farmer testing of products from public research could result in the rapid assessment of success or failure of GM cropdevelopment.
The full report entitled “To Reach the Poor - Results from the ISNAR-IFPRI Next Harvest Study on Genetically Modified Crops, Public Research, and Policy ImplicationsE2809D is available online at http://www.ifpri.org/
ASPB offers access to plant science journals
April 16, 2004
Crop Biotech Update
www.isaaa.org/kc
The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) announced recently that it is offering scientists in almost 70 developing countries free access to its plant science journals, namely: Plant Physiology, and The Plant Cell
. These two journals are two of the three most frequently cited plant science journals worldwide.
This activity is in line with ASPB’s participation in the Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA) - an initiative led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to provide free access to over
400 major agricultural scientific journals worldwide. Topics about the l atest developments in the biological, environmental, and social sciences are also provided in the journals. Says Mary Lou Guerinot, president, ASPB "many agricultural libraries in (the) developing countries had not received science journals for a number of years. By providing scientists in poor nations access to current scientific information, we believe scientists in these nations will be better able to help address local problems in agricultural production."
For more information about this service, contact Brian Hyps at bhyps@....
Farmers face new threat: inspection fatigue
April 16, 2004
Western Producer
Ed White
http://www.producer.com/articles/20040415/news/20040415news16.html
This story asks, what's worse than one gruelling audit in which a farmer is forced to show and tell how he grows his crops, how he stores his crops and how he ships his crops? Having to do more than a dozen audits like that, according to an expert on on-farm food production inspections.
Victor Muliyil, manager of food safety services for SGS North America, was quoted as saying in an interview during the Canada Grains Council's annual meeting that, "There are some producers in high risk products that are being audited - and these are two to three day audits - 15 times a year. That's 25 percent of your work."
Muliyil was further cited as saying that the problem with audits is there are so many different ones, even though most measure the same things and that there is little reason to repeat the auditing process, but most audits operate independently and do not accept each other's results.
Managing soil carbon
April 16, 2004
Science, Vol 304, Issue 5669, 393
Rattan Lal,1* Michael Griffin,2 Jay Apt,2,3 Lester Lave,2,3 M. Granger Morgan3*
Restoring soil carbon is essential to enhancing soil quality, sustaining and improving food production, maintaining clean water, and reducing increases in atmospheric CO2. Short-sighted farming practices have resulted in loss of an estimated 4 ± 1 gigatons (Gt) of carbon from soils of the United States, and 78 ± 12 Gt from the world's soils, a large fraction of which ended up in the atmosphere (1). Soil carbon loss has come principally from plowing that turns over the soil, making it susceptible to accelerated erosion (2). This is exemplified by the Dust Bowl era in the United States and is a serious issue in most developing countries (see the figure).
Although some carbon is sequestered (3), accelerated water erosion is responsible for net emission of about 1 Gt C/year (4). Leaving crop residues after harvest increases the carbon content of soil and controls erosion, but the benefits are lost if the biomass is plowed under, because microorganisms quickly degrade residue C to CO2 (5). Essential nutrients that adhere to soil organic carbon (SOC) disappear with its depletion. Thus, farmers require more fertilizer, irrigation, and pesticides to preserve yield. Water quality can deteriorate when less SOC is available for natural filtering.
Detailed rules for implementing Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on GM food and feed published
April 16, 2004
European Commission, Press Release
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh/start/cgi/guesten.kshp_action.getmex=gc?p_action.getmex=gc
The European Commission has adopted implementing rules that are necessary for the operation of the Genetically Modified (GM) Food and Feed Regulation ((EC) No 1829/2003). Firstly, the implementing rules concern applications for authorisation of new GM food and feed. They specify how these applications should be prepared and presented. Applications must clearly identify the scope of the application, indicate what parts are confidential and must include amongst other a monitoring plan, a labelling proposal and a detection method for the new GM food or feed. The implementing rules also specify how applications submitted under other current Community legislation will be (automatically) converted into applications under the new GM food and feed law which enters into application on 18 April. Secondly, the rules also cover how notifications of existing food and feed products should be prepared and presented. The notifications must show that the products are safe and do not mislead the consumer, must clearly identify the scope of the application and what parts are confidential and must include a detection method and samples of the products. Thirdly, for the adventitious or technically unavoidable presence of non-authorised GM material the rules specify that the Commission will draw up a list with the GM material that is not authorised but has received a positive risk assessment by one of the former Scientific Committees or by European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The list will also indicate if a detection method is available for this GM material. The presence of this material in food or feed will be tolerated up to 0.5%. The implementing rules are published in the OJ L 102/14 of 7 April 2004 http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2004/l_102/l_10220040407en00140025.pdf. More information also in Questions and Answers on GMOs - MEMO/04/85.
Keep organic safe from GE contamination
April 16, 2004
From a press release
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Genetic engineering jeopardizes Vermont's growing organic market, compromises farmers' freedom to farm, and denies consumers their right to know basic information about their food, according to Organic Valley New England, a regional cooperative made up of 45 Vermont and 40 Maine organic dairy farmers.
"GE is an economic issue. Genetic engineering puts at risk the integrity of the crops produced by Vermont's organic farmers. Our state can ill afford to jeopardize one of the bright spots of our agricultural economy," said Regina Beidler, an Organic Valley dairy farmer who farms 35 cows on 150 acres with her husband Brent in Randolph Center, Vermont.
GE drift is also a factor. Travis Forgues, an Organic Valley dairy farmer who farms 80 cows on 220 acres in Alburg, Vermont, said, "Genetic Engineering takes the freedom away from people to farm the way they choose. Pollen travels. It's impossible for organic farmers to guarantee that we're growing what we planted. Genetically altered crops end up in our fields, changing the structure of what we planted, and altering the product."
Organic Valley New England strongly supports measures designed to protect the integrity of organic seed. Said Beidler, "If Vermont allows GE seed to be within its borders, the seed must be stringently labeled and vigorously tracked to prevent contamination. In the event that contamination does take place, the seed manufacturers, and not the farmers, must be held responsible."
Consumer rights must also be considered. "Consumers deserve the right to know what is in the food they feed their families," said Forgues. "If foods are produced using genetically modified ingredients, consumers should be made aware of that fact. We need GE-foods labeled."
Beidler added that more than 60 percent of all foods produced in America are made with genetically engineered ingredients. She said, "Organic foods represent the only option available to consumers who want GE free food. Organic farmers must have protections in place to guarantee their right to continue to grow food uncontaminated by GMOs and to continue to offer consumers the right to choose."
Question and Answers on the regulation of GMOs in the EU
April 15, 2004
European Commission, MEMO/04/85
The complete document is available at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=MEMO/04/85|0|RAPID&lg=en&display=
Could seaweed clean up DDT?
April 15, 2004
Society of Chemical Industry
Adding small amounts of seaweed to contaminated soil could prove to be a natural and effective way of breaking down the toxic pesticide DDT, according to new research in the Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology. A British biologist, Ian Singleton, worked with colleagues in Australia and Thailand to find the right formula to use. Too much seaweed hindered biodegradation, but the most effective mix – 0.5% seaweed added to waterlogged soil – managed to remove 80% of the DDT present over six weeks, lowering the levels of DDT enough to pass Australian Environment Protection Authority criteria.
Why it is necessary
Although DDT is banned in most of the industrial world, it is one of the most effective anti-mosquito agents available. Twenty five countries, including South Africa, still use it in the fight against malaria, despite strong opposition from environmental groups. If DDT could be more quickly broken down after use, the overall health benefits to countries with big malaria problems could be enormous.
Why it works
The initial breakdown of DDT depends on particular microbes that function best anaerobically (without oxygen). The researchers used waterlogged soil to encourage the anaerobic microbes. Seaweed is a good source of sodium, which in low concentrations “significantly enhances” the microbes’ breakdown of DDT. Sodium disperses soil, thus exposing DDT to microbes; it also affects the amount of dissolved organic carbon in the soil, which in turn makes a difference to the way organisms access the contaminants. When too much seaweed is used, the dissolved carbon and excess sodium gets in the way of the process.
The authors suggest that the seaweed method “has potential” in accelerating DDT clean-up: “it would work best in small areas where DDT has been accidentally spilled or added to soil rather than being applied on a large scale, as the process has to be controlled and monitored.”
D Kantachote, R Naidu, B Williams, N McClure, M Megharaj and I Singleton. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology. JCTB.1032 Volume 79 (online 2004)
Sterility Mosaic Disease—the “green plague” of pigeonpea: advances in understanding the etiology, transmission and control of a major virus disease
May 2004
Plant Disease Volume 88, Number 5
http://www.apsnet.org/pd/current/top.asp
A. Teifion Jones, Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI), Scotland, UK; P. Lava Kumar, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, India, and SCRI; K. B. Saxena, ICRISAT; N. K. Kulkarni, University of Agriculture Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, India, and ICRISAT; V. Muniyappa, University of Agriculture Sciences, Bangalore, India; and Farid Waliyar, ICRISAT. Plant Dis. D-2004-0308-01F.
Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), is a grain legume that is a very important subsistence crop in marginal farming systems adopted by millions of smallholder farmers in the Indian subcontinent. It is grown for its seed for human consumption and for income generation by trading surpluses in local and commercial markets, but is widely used for diverse purposes, including as animal fodder and for soil conservation. Sterility mosaic (SMD) is the most damaging disease of pigeonpea endemic in the Indian subcontinent. It causes yield losses of >US$300 million per annum in India and Nepal alone. SMD-affected plants show severe stunting and mosaic symptoms on leaves, with complete or partial cessation of flowering. The SMD causal agent is spread by the arthropod mite vector Aceria cajani (Acari: Eriophyidae). Cultivating SMD-resistant genotypes is the most viable way to manage this serious disease of pigeonpea. Progress in developing broad-based SMD resistant material has been hindered by the lack of knowledge of the causal agent, the absence of diagnostic tools, and factors influencing host-plant resistance. After seven decades of research, vital breakthroughs made on the identification, detection, transmission, and epidemiology of the SMD causal agent, Pigeonpea sterility mosaic virus (PPSMV), are enabling the development of broad-based durable resistant pigeonpea cultivars. These breakthroughs will contribute greatly to sustainable pigeonpea production and enhance the income and livelihood of poor farmers in the semi-arid tropics of the Indian subcontinent.
Distribution and incidence of iris yellow spot virus in Colorado and its relation to onion plant population and yield
May 2004
Plant Disease Volume 88, Number 5
http://www.apsnet.org/pd/current/top.asp
David H. Gent and Howard F. Schwartz, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, and Rajiv Khosla, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523. Plant Dis. D-2004-0225-01R, 2004 (online). Accepted for publication 15 December 2003.
Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) is transmitted by thrips and has emerged as a potentially devastating and widespread disease of onion in the western United States. In annual surveys in Colorado, IYSV was confirmed in one of 18 fields (5.6%) in 2001, four of 24 (16.7%) in 2002, and 41 of 56 (73.2%) in 2003. IYSV was confirmed on volunteer onions in 2003 at all four locations where IYSV was observed in the onion crop the previous year. The spatial variability of disease incidence, yield, and plant population also were mapped in two fields in 2003 using the global positioning system and a geographic information system. Disease incidence varied among cultivars, plant population, fields, and location in the field. Distinct disease gradients were observed in both fields with susceptible cultivars Teton and Granero, but not in the moderately resistant cv. Sterling. In fields planted to the susceptible cultivars, disease incidence was highest on the field edges and lowest near the field centers. Yield of jumbo market class onions, but not total yield, was negatively correlated with increasing IYSV incidence in cultivar Teton. Colossal market class yield, but not other yield components, was negatively correlated with IYSV incidence in cultivar Sterling. The results of these studies indicate the distribution of IYSV is rapidly expanding in Colorado and is associated with a general reduction in bulb size.
Timing of preharvest infection of pear fruit by Botrytis cinerea and the relationship to postharvest decay
May 2004
Plant Disease Volume 88, Number 5
http://www.apsnet.org/pd/current/top.asp
C. L. Lennox, ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Weeds Pathology Unit, Private Bag X5017, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa, and R. A. Spotts, Oregon State University Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 3005 Experiment Station Drive, Hood River 97031. Plant Dis. D-2004-0217-02R, 2004 (online). Accepted for publication 28 November 2003.
Botrytis cinerea causes significant levels of postharvest decay in the winter pear cultivar d’Anjou. The objectives of this study were to determine the timing of B. cinerea infection of pear stems and calyxes in the orchard during the growing season, to investigate the development of gray mold in storage, and to determine whether preharvest levels of B. cinerea in pear stems and calyxes can be used as predictors of gray mold levels observed in storage. Stem tissue showed very low levels of infection by B. cinerea prior to harvest. Little or no stem end gray mold was detected in fruit after 3 months in air storage; however, incidence increased between 6 and 8 months. Calyx end gray mold was detected at low levels in fruit stored for up to 8 months. Calyxes were susceptible to infection soon after full bloom; however, inoculation of calyxes in April or May did not result in higher levels of calyx end gray mold in storage. We concluded that preharvest level of calyx infection is a poor predictor of calyx end gray mold in storage. In addition, application of benomyl in the orchard reduced the level of B. cinerea in blossoms but had no effect on levels of calyx end gray mold of fruit in storage. Packing and shipping fruit within 3 to 6 months of harvest may reduce losses due to gray mold.
Incidence of postharvest decay of ‘d’Anjou’ Pear and control with a Thiabendazole drench
May 2004
Plant Disease Volume 88, Number 5
http://www.apsnet.org/pd/current/top.asp
Cheryl L. Lennox, ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Weeds Pathology Unit, Private Bag X5017, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Robert A. Spotts, Oregon State University Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Hood River 97031; and Mardé Booyse, ARC-Biometry Unit, Private Bag X5013, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa. Plant Dis. D-2004-0217-01R, 2004 (online). Accepted for publication 1 December 2003.
Postharvest decay causes economic losses in the pear industry. Knowing which decay is the most prevalent enables growers and packinghouses to implement effective control strategies. In this study, decay in air and controlled-atmosphere (CA)-stored ‘d’Anjou’ pear fruit was investigated, as was the effect of a prestorage thiabendazole drench. In air storage, decay varied according to the year. Bull’s-eye rot (31.37%) was most prevalent in 1996, whereas gray and blue mold (1996 and 1997), and bull’s-eye rot (1997) were similar. Mucor, Alternaria, and Coprinus rot levels were low. Stem-end gray mold (2.58%) was higher than calyx-end (0.73%) and puncture gray mold (0.61%). Incidence of gray mold (2.26%) was higher than all other decay in nondrenched CA storage, and incidence of other decay types was similar. Incidence of puncture gray mold (1.13%) was higher than stem-end gray mold (0.84%), which in turn was higher than calyx-end gray mold (0.36%) in nondrenched CA storage. Incidence of gray mold (1.04%) in CA-stored fruit was reduced by a prestorage thiabendazole drench. Drenching reduced stem-end (0.34%) and puncture gray mold (0.40%) but had no effect on all other decay or the total decay incidence. These results support the current recommendations of a single postharvest application of thiabendazole to control gray mold in d’Anjou pear fruit.
Conventional and real-time PCR-based assay for detecting pathogenic Alternaria brassicae in cruciferous seed
May 2004
Plant Disease Volume 88, Number 5
http://www.apsnet.org/pd/current/top.asp
Thomas Guillemette, UMR 77 Pathologie Végétale, Faculté des Sciences, Angers, France; Béatrice Iacomi-Vasilescu, UMR 77 Pathologie Végétale, France, and USAMV, Department of Plant Protection, Bucharest, Romania; and Philippe Simoneau, UMR 77 Pathologie Végétale, France. Plant Dis. D-2004-0301-01R, 2004 (online). Accepted for publication 19 December 2003.
Alternaria brassicae is an important and widely distributed pathogen of crucifers. This fungus is responsible for the black spot disease that results in serious reductions in crop yields. Genetic control of the pathogen is not possible because most commercial cultivars are susceptible. Consequently, the use of pathogen-free seed is essential to limit the spread and incidence of the disease and also to reduce fungicide applications. Therefore, sanitary certification programs for commercial cruciferous seed include A. brassicae detection. Diagnosis currently is obtained after plating seed on nutritive media, using incubation and morphological characterization of the fungus. This procedure is time-consuming—requiring at least 1 week to obtain a diagnostic result—and often not very accurate due to potential confusion with nonpathogenic Alternaria spp. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop alternative diagnostic tools such as molecular techniques based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this article, we describe two molecular assays for detecting A. brassicae in cruciferous seed using conventional or real-time PCR. The two methods perform equally well in terms of specificity, sensitivity, and speed. However, the real-time PCR assay is better suited for routine detection because no post-amplification manipulations are required. Furthermore, this real-time PCR diagnosis method may be readily amenable to automation.
Biocontrol of postharvest diseases of Jujube fruit by Cryptococcus laurentii combined with a low dosage of fungicides under different storage conditions
May 2004
Plant Disease Volume 88, Number 5
http://www.apsnet.org/pd/current/top.asp
Guo Zheng Qin and Shi Ping Tian, Key Laboratory of Photosynthesis and Environmental Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan Nanxincun 20, Haidian District, Beijing 100093, China. Plant Dis. D-2004-0309-01R, 2004 (online). Accepted for publication 21 December 2003.
Jujube fruit is susceptible to postharvest decay caused by various pathogenic fungi. Synthetic chemical fungicide is the primary means to control postharvest diseases of jujube fruit. However, concerns about public health and the environment and the development of resistant pathogens have increased the search for alternative methods. In this article, an integrated control strategy against Alternaria alternata (Fr.:Fr.) Keissl. and Monilinia fructicola (G. Wint.) Honey ofjujube fruit was obtained by combining Cryptococcus laurentii (Kuff.) C. E.Skinner with a low dose of fungicide and controlled-atmosphere (CA) storage. The result showed that the biological control activity of C. laurentii was enhanced significantly when combined with the fungicides imazalil (25 µg a.i./ml) or kresoxim-methyl (50 µg a.i./ml) against both pathogens under CA storage. C. laurentii was resistant to low rates of fungicides and was adapted to CA storage. C. laurentii grew rapidly in the wounds of jujube fruit under all storage conditions, including CA storage at 0°C, regardless of whether the fungicides were used or not. This indicates that C. laurentii has great commercial potential as a biological control product.
Dose curves of disinfestants applied to plant production surfaces to control Botrytis cinerea
May 2004
Plant Disease Volume 88, Number 5
http://www.apsnet.org/pd/current/top.asp
W. E. Copes, USDA/ARS Small Fruit Experiment Station, Poplarville, MS 39470. Plant Dis. D-2004-0223-01R, 2004 (online). Accepted for publication 22 December 2003.
Percent spore mortality of the gray mold fungus (Botrytis cinerea) was compared in response to multiple concentrations of six disinfestants on various materials (pine lumber [natural, pressure-treated, exterior latex-painted], polyethylene [ground fabric, pot plastic], and metal [galvanized, stainless steel]). The spore mortality responses were used to calculate predictive lethal dose ranges. The predictive lethal doses of three commercially available disinfestants (hydrogen dioxide, quaternary ammonium chloride, sodium hypochlorite) were additionally compared with concentrations that resulted in zero growth of B. cinerea for the same substrates. Results show that the material being disinfested affects the concentration of a disinfestant needed to rid the surface of B. cinerea spores. In general, higher rates were required on natural and pressure-treated pine lumber, and lower rates were required on latex-painted pine lumber and stainless steel. The rates presented are to disinfest only clean surfaces of the specific fungus tested. This research increases our knowledge about the selectivity of disinfestant rates.
Engineered resistance against Papaya ringspot virus in Venezuelan transgenic papayas
May 2004
Plant Disease Volume 88, Number 5
http://www.apsnet.org/pd/current/top.asp
Gustavo Fermin, Valentina Inglessis, Cesar Garboza, Sairo Rangel, and Manuel Dagert, Department of Biology, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela; and Dennis Gonsalves, USDA - Pacific West Area, Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, Hilo, HI 96720. Plant Dis. D-2004-0303-01R, 2004 (online). Accepted for publication 24 December 2003.
Papaya ringspot virus causes the most important virus disease of papaya worldwide, including Venezuela. In a technology transfer program between Venezuela and Cornell University, genetically engineered papaya that express the coat protein gene of Papaya ringspot virus was developed and found to be resistant to Papaya ringspot virus isolates from Venezuela, Hawaii, and Thailand. Besides being the first virus-resistant genetically engineered papaya produced for Venezuela, the papaya is of the horticultural type that is preferred in Venezuela. This transgenic papaya will be used for further tests in Venezuela and could provide a practical solution to the Papaya ringspot virus problem in Venezuela.
Assessment of the potential year-round establishment of soybean rust throughout the world
May 2004
Plant Disease Volume 88, Number 5
http://www.apsnet.org/pd/current/top.asp
S. Pivonia and X. B. Yang, Iowa State University, Department of Plant Pathology, Ames 50011. Plant Dis. D-2004-0301-03R, 2004 (online). Accepted for publication 2 January 2004.
Soybean rust has occurred in eastern Asia and Australia for decades. During the past few years, the fungus had spread into new areas in Africa and South America. A modeling approach, taking into account the fungus temperature and moisture constraints for reproduction, was applied to study the potential year-round persistence of soybean rust. The data is important to assess (i) the potential threat of soybean rust in new regions and (ii) the potential dissemination into soybean production regions from an overwintering area. Our study shows that, globally, soybean production regions can be divided into two types: type 1 areas, where the disease can survive year-round on suitable hosts, and type 2 areas, where disease occurrence depends on an external source of inoculum after long-distance dispersal from a source area. Most regions where soybean rust is known to occur are in areas of type 1. After soybean rust enters the United States, the fungus is likely to overwinter in parts of Florida and southern Texas. Major soybean production regions in the United States and central Argentina are, like Central China, type 2 areas. Further study is needed to determine the potential build-up of soybean rust in the south and the establishment of a northward spore pathway during a soybean growing season.
A computer program to improve the efficiency and accuracy of postulating race-specific resistance genes
May 2004
Plant Disease Volume 88, Number 5
http://www.apsnet.org/pd/current/top.asp
Yeshi A. Wamishe, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701; Kevin C. Thompson, Agricultural Statistics Laboratory, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701; and Eugene A. Milus, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701. Plant Dis. D-2004-0311-01S, 2004 (online). Accepted for publication 5 January 2004.
Race-specific resistance genes that are expressed in the seedling stage have been used to protect wheat from leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina. Combinations of several genes provide better protection than one or a few genes. Knowing which resistance genes are in particular wheat lines (cultivars and breeding lines) would allow breeders to choose parents for developing new cultivars with particular combinations of resistance genes. The objective of this study was to develop a computer program to facilitate identification of race-specific resistance genes in wheat lines. For each line, step 1 of the program used data from P. triticina races that attacked the line, and these data definitively excluded genes that cannot be present in the line. Step 2 of the program utilized data from races that did not attack the line and produced a concise table of data that was then examined visually to determine which resistance genes were present and which may be present in the line. This program would be especially useful for identifying a large number of resistance genes in a large number of lines with a large number of races and also could be adapted to host–pathogen systems other than leaf rust of wheat.
Monsanto Canada Scholarship program supports the future of agriculture
April 16, 2004
From a press release
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA-- Monsanto Canada today announced details of its 2004 Monsanto Opportunity Scholarship Program for high school students across Canada.
In its 14th year, the Monsanto Canada Opportunity Scholarship program will provide $1,500 scholarships to deserving high school students across the country. Since its inception, Monsanto Canada has awarded more than $600,000 in entrance scholarships to students who meet the following criteria:
Students must be from an agricultural or forestry family with plans to enter their first year of post-secondary education in an agricultural sciences or forestry program;
Students must have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership capabilities and a keen interest and involvement in their local communities;
Applications must be post-marked no later than July 15, 2004 to be considered.
"This is one of the most rewarding programs we are involved with because it attracts a great group of outstanding students who are excited about pursuing careers in agriculture," said Trish Jordan, public affairs lead with Monsanto Canada. "It is one way Monsanto Canada can support and encourage students to explore a career in agriculture or forestry and ensure a highly skilled and educated workforce for these industries in the future."
Scholarship application forms and posters in both French and English have been distributed to high schools, 4-H Clubs, provincial and federal agriculture offices, farm retail outlets, media and seed companies. Application forms and brochures are also available from Monsanto's CustomCare line at 1-800-667-4944 or they can be accessed online at www.monsanto.ca
An independent panel of judges will review all applications postmarked by July 15, 2004. Successful applicants will be announced in the fall.
Monsanto Canada, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a leading provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve productivity.
Agnet is produced by the Food Safety Network at the University of Guelph and is sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Plants Program at the University of Guelph, Agricultural Adaptation Council (CanAdapt Program), AGCare, Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, ConAgra Foods Inc., Meat Livestock Australia, Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited (Canada), Monsanto Canada, National Pork Board, Syngenta Seeds, Inc. USA, JIFSAN, CropLife Canada, Canadian Animal Health Institute, Burger King Corporation, Southern Crop Protection Association, Ag-West Biotech Inc., Ontario Agri-Food Technologies, Syngenta Crop Protection, Feedlot Health Management Services, Institute of Environmental Science Research Limited , National Food Processors Association, Tactix Government Consulting, Inc., CanAmera Foods, Global Public Affairs, and Agri Business Group, Inc.
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